Trump promises $1,776 checks are already ‘on the way’ to millions, but what’s forcing him to do this is the real crisis

President Trump made a huge policy announcement, declaring that $1,776 checks are already “on the way” to roughly 1.4 million members of the military, as per The Hill. This move was announced during a rare, nearly 20-minute primetime address from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House.

It sounds like the announcement came together fast, too. The president hinted that the final details were finalized just before he spoke, saying, “And the checks are already on the way. Nobody understood that one until about 30 minutes ago.” While this is great news for military families, the address itself came at a critical time for the administration. The need for a big policy win like this underscores the persistent questions about affordability and the president’s slumping approval numbers.

If you look at the recent data, it’s clear the administration is feeling the pressure. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 39 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the presidency, while 59 percent disapprove. The economic numbers are even tougher. A separate PBS News/NPR/Marist poll showed that a massive 57 percent of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy. Only 36 percent of respondents said they approve.

This is Trump’s dire move after facing the massive slump in approval numbers

During the address, President Trump spent significant time trying to reframe the narrative, arguing that he inherited a “dire economic situation” and has managed to bring about incredible change in just 11 months. He continued to hammer his predecessor, using familiar campaign rhetoric that America was a “dead” country before he returned to office. This is in line with his previous claim that his poll numbers were ‘rockin’.’

The president claimed that his administration had lowered the costs of common goods, specifically pointing to gasoline, eggs, airfare, and hotel rates as examples. He also cited revenue brought in from tariffs and investments in the U.S. economy through foreign trade deals. “Over the past 11 months we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history,” Trump said. “There has never been anything like it, and I think most would agree.”

Beyond the military checks, the president teased some major future policy changes that you should definitely keep an eye on. He said he would “soon” announce the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, describing his pick as “someone who believes in lowering interest rates by a lot.” That’s a huge shift if it happens, and it could significantly impact borrowing costs for everyone.

The president also promised major housing reform initiatives coming in 2026. “In the new year, I will announce some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history,” the president said. He claimed that his administration’s policies, which he tied to his deportation efforts, had already worked to lower the cost of a typical new mortgage by $3,000 annually. He didn’t offer specifics on how this was implemented, but he promised that even more savings are coming.

“And it’s coming down a lot lower,” he said. “Wait till you see. The numbers are going to be shocking.” Considering he recently graded himself ‘A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus’ for his handling of the economy, we’ll have to wait and see how this policy move pans out.